Cracks

[Jjak123]

Hello,

We’ve some cracks and we’re wondering if they look like something structural. The wall was opened up and there was a beam put in (where marked in yellow).
There’s a big crack in the corner by the radiator, which looks quite deep (marked with green). It’s on the wall only and goes from the ceiling down to the skirting board.
There are also some cracks above the kitchen door opening on the hall side (last pic) - on the wall and the ceiling.
Does it look like there may be something wrong with the beam and the cracks are structural?

 

[^woody^]

When was the work done?
When did the cracks first appear, and how long from then to get to the width they are now?
Any crack upstairs internally on the external wall above?

They look more related to poor quality work.

 

[Jjak123]

Thanks for your reply.

There aren’t any cracks on the external walls or the internal walls upstairs, however the silicon in the bathroom (which is above it) has all cracked between the floor and the wall- is it possible it’s due to the floor moving down?
The works were all done in July/August (bathroom included).
The cracks started to appear around October.

In terms of the poor quality work- do you mean poor quality in terms of plastering and decorating? (Everything was done by the same contractor)

 

[^woody^]

One explanation could be that since the works in the summer, and then the seasonal change and drying out this could be related to that.

However, as there are cracks to existing finishes upstairs, that suggests excessive movement post installation

Poor quality as in some or all of the following
-Poor propping of the wall
-Poor packing of the beam
-Poor bonding of the pier below the beam
-Poor plastering not allowing for movement

Inform the builder. They may well say "it's normal" but cracking is not normal. Even if its from the seasonal change and just cracking to the finishes that is not acceptable.

Monitor the cracks for width and extension. Also for new cracking

Search some threads regarding cracking after steel beam installation.